Women living in areas with more green living longer

Women living in houses surrounded by areas with more vegetation may have a lower risk of death compared to those who live in places where there are no trees or places with greenery, shown in a recent study.

The team collected data from over 108,000 women in the United States between 2000 and 2008.
Researchers found that women living in areas with lots of greenery risk of death 12% lower than those who do not have trees around the house or garden. The study also found that women with more vegetation around the houses they live in are 34% less risk of developing respiratory diseases and those who live in areas with rich vegetation at risk with 13% less to develop forms cancer than those in less green places.
Even if the study found the association between housing green areas and longer duration of life, not aimed to demonstrate the relationship of cause and effect.
'' I was surprised to see such strong association between exposure to areas with greenery and a lower rate of deaths ", said study author Peter James', a research associate at Harvard T.S. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, according to Agerpres.
'' I was even more surprised to discover that much of the advantage the high levels of vegetation appears to be associated with improved mental health '', he has sent Peter James in a press release.
The researchers noted that better mental health was reflected in lower levels of depression. Other items that might be involved in the benefits of green spaces include several social occasions, more physical activity and less exposure to air pollution, according to study authors. The study was published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.